Genuine Orthodox Church of America

The Genuine Orthodox Church of America (GOCA) is an independent Old Calendaristjurisdiction based in Buena Vista, Colorado, which sees itself as the only legitimate Orthodox church in America. It is not in communion with any Orthodox body. However, it has in the past claimed to maintain communion with the Genuine Orthodox Church of Greece, headed by Abp. Makarios of Athens. Both Archbishop Makarios himself and his synod have repeatedly stated in official documents that they have no association whatsoever with this group. The GOAC is headed by Abp. Gregory (George) of Denver.

The GOAC was formed out of a group originally under the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, which later joined two Greek Old Calendarist jurisdictions (namely, that of Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Athens and Archbishop Makarios of Athens), followed by the Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church (ROAC) (2000), and is now independent following the ROAC's deposition and excommunication of Abp. Gregory (2004).[1][2] With its history of being a part of various jurisdictions, the Genuine Orthodox Church of America tends to be in a constant state of hostility toward its former affiliations.

In 2007, Archbishop Gregory received Archbishop Ambrose (Moran-Dolgorouky) of New York City, one of many episcopi vagantes who claim to have been consecrated by independent Ukrainian bishops, into the GOCA. After his reception, he participated in the consecration of Archimandrite John (Egan) as Bishop of Colorado Springs, along with Archbishop Gregory, on January 6, 2008. Since the reception of a bishop can only be canonically accomplished by a synod, Archbishop Gregory initially claimed that Archbishop Makarios of Athens gave him verbal consent for the reception over the telephone. Later, this was proved to be untrue. Six months later, Archbishop Ambrose seceded from communion with Archbishop Gregory and returned to his former status as an independent bishop. Since the consecration of Bishop John was administered by only two bishops, one of whom was uncanonically received into the Church and possessed questionable apostolic succession, the status of the GOCA has become even more isolated.